Avionics System Test Operations Engineer

Vast • Long Beach, CA

2d • $121,100 - $183,260 • Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking an Avionics System Test Operations Engineer to support the development and operation of automated testing systems for the design and build of human-rated space stations. The role reports to the Senior Manager, Avionics System Test and is based at Vast’s Long Beach location. The engineer will work with engineering and system-owner teams to define test criteria, develop and execute system-level tests, operate and troubleshoot test assets, and improve testing efficiency through automation. The position also supports mission-operator training, anomaly resolution, and the development of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL/HIL) systems for Haven-1 avionics.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The California pay range is $121,100–$183,260 USD, with level and compensation calibrated to the selected candidate’s experience and demonstrated capability. Full-time employees receive company equity and benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off; paid parental leave; short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; access to a 401(k) plan; ClassPass credits; personalized mental healthcare; and other discounts and perks. On-site food perks include free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, and dinner, with subsidized lunch.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another hard science.
• At least 2 years of post-bachelor’s experience working with or developing hardware test systems.
• At least 2 years of experience building and maintaining hardware test systems.
• Experience operating and maintaining Linux systems, including confident use of command-line tools.
• Experience with power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, and digital multimeters.
• Experience designing and/or maintaining computer networks.
• Familiarity with basic electrical and wiring concepts, including grounding and electrical safety.
• Demonstrated expertise in root-cause analysis methodologies and problem-solving in avionics or complex hardware environments.
• Strong documentation skills, including the ability to produce detailed, accurate technical reports and communicate findings effectively.
• Familiarity with Python programming.
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds unassisted.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with satellite communications or telemetry systems.
• Experience developing and executing requirement-driven test plans for avionics or electronics systems.
• Experience with automated test systems and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) environments.
• Familiarity with C++.
• Experience with embedded-systems design and/or testing.
• Experience with testing protocols and standards relevant to space systems.
• Familiarity with Git, CMake, and GNU tools.
• Knowledge of CI/CD and issue-tracking tools such as the Atlassian Suite (JIRA, Bitbucket, Confluence) and GitHub.
• Familiarity with Docker or other containerization software.
• Experience designing and building systems with a modular DAQ ecosystem, such as NI, Weidmuller, or Beckhoff.

Responsibilities

• Work with Responsible Engineers and system owners across the organization to capture test design criteria for avionics test systems.
• Lead test-methodology discussions with stakeholders, including Flight Software and Mission Operations, to develop procedures for Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL/HIL) test assets.
• Develop system-level test cases, implement them on test systems, and validate their outputs with internal stakeholders.
• Plan day-to-day system test operations.
• Troubleshoot and debug avionics test systems.
• Perform checkout testing of system test assets and support sign-off reviews.
• Develop automation tools, such as Python and ground-software scripts, to improve test planning, execution, data analysis, and verification tracking.
• Serve as a first point of contact for anomaly resolution, including documentation, root-cause analysis, disposition, and recurrence-prevention activities.
• Support Mission Operator training activities using system test HITL assets.
• Support anomaly-resolution activities for issues encountered on orbit.
• Support design of HITL/HIL test assets for system-level validation of Haven-1 avionics, including closed-loop simulation of relevant test cases.
• Work with subject-matter experts to support development, implementation, and verification of interfaces to co-simulation strategies for HITL applications.
• Produce test-system documentation and support handover to test operators.

Benefits

• Company equity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• Paid time off, including vacation and the ability for exempt staff to cash out unused vacation annually
• Paid parental leave
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• Other discounts and perks
• Free snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals; subsidized lunch

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level